Book-support



(No Mpdel.)

J. BANNER.

"BOOK SUPPORT.

No. 289,394. Patented Dec. 4,1883

N. PETERS Fhnblhhngnphur. man-mm n. t;

of which the following is STATES {PATENT UFFICE.

JoHN DANNER, or CANTON, OHIO.

BOOK-SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 289,394, dated December 4, 1858.

Application filed March 26, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN BANNER, of Canton, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Book-Support,

a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in adjustable book-supports, in which the free edge of the upper leaf is supported from end to end when set or inclined ready for use; and the objects of my improvements are to provide a book-support of this class with inexpensive but reliable means to permit the upper leaf to be retained at any desired angle and its prop prevented from slipping; and, second, to have said prop (used to sustain the upper leaf of the device) so connected and chained thereto that it cannot be mislaid, and

of such form that it can be used as a paperruler and book-marker, or as a weight to prevent the turning of a books leaves when set upon them.

The invention will first be described in connection with the drawings, and then bepointed out in the claim.

leaf as I side thereof. Fig.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my book-rest partly opened Fig. 2, a perspective view of the same device fully opened, with the flat ruler or prop along- 3 represents a transverse section of the book-rest partly opened; Fig. 4, a transverse section of the same closed; Fig. 5, a transverse section of the same with the top made of wood and the bottom leaf of metal; Fig. 6, atransverse section of the same with both leaves of metal.

In the drawings, the upper leaf of the de vice is shown at Aand the lower leaf at B. These leaves, as shown in the first four figures, are made of boards similarly grooved in one of their sides. They are protected against warping by cleats a, secured by tongue and groove, or otherwise, to the ends of each leaf. The leaves A and B are hinged together at b, so as to be capable of lying fiat one upon the other. The leaf A can be retained at any desired angle to the leaf B by means of a fiat prop or ruler, O, capable of being held upon its edge, with its top and bottom edges engaged in corresponding grooves, d, formed upon the interior faces of the leaves. A series of these grooves cl is made in each leaf, preferably corresponding with the series of grooves in the other leaf, to present the same form of bearing to each edge of the ruler, and at the same time facilitate the construction of the device by requiring only one kind of groovingcutters in preparing the boards used in making the leaves. A broad but shallow groove, e, is also made in each leaf, adjoining the hinged part, to receive the ruler 0 without interfer- 6o ing with the folding of the device, said ruler being retained within the groove by the cleats a at each end. To prevent the ruler G from being taken away and misplaced, I secure it to one of the leaves by a chain, f, and staples f, a groove, made in one of the cleats opposite the groove 6, giving the required groove for the chain. The ruler 0, being as long as each one of the grooved leaves, sustains the upper one the whole length thereof. The corners of said ruler are slightly rounded off, simply to prevent their being easily defaced. A light strip, h, secured above the edge of the leaf A, to retain books thereon, is shown in some of the figures.

In Fig. 5 the device isshown upper leaf of wood and its lower leaf of sheet metal, suitably corrugated to receive the ruler 0, either fiat between the leaves or with its edges resting in grooves in each leaf.

In Fig. 6 both leaves of the device are represented as made of metal suitably corrugated,

as having its or formed by casting or otherwise, to produce a casing to receive the ruler 0 either fiat between the leaves or upon its edge in the grooves d, the upper leaf, A, having its edges flanged to give thereto the required stiffness and strength.

In using this device any desired angle can be obtained between the leaves by placing the ruler O edgewise within-the grooves d, at a more or less distance from the hinge. When not used as a prop, this transferable ruler O can be used as a straight-edge in making lines, or as a weight and marker between the leaves of a book placed alongside or upon the device.

This device can be used on top of revolving book-cases, or upon an ordinary table or desk, or simply upon a persons lap to sustain open books, and for convenience in reading and writing. It is very strong, not capable of getting out of order by ordinary use, and it can be made of any desired size, and used with either the top or bottom of the device up, as a rest for books, &c.

It is evident that the grooves (1 may also be made by cleats or ribs arranged in pairs and secured to the inner faces of the leaves, and that the grooves 6 may be made wide enough to receive not only the ruler, but its chain secured therein and placed, when folded, alongside thereof in said grooves.

Having now fully described my invention, I claim- 7 As a new article of manufacture, a booksupport composed of two leaves, hinged together at one end, each leaf provided with a series of longitudinal grooves, d and e, equidistant from its hinge, With'a removable prop, B, in the form of a fiat ruler, to rest in either one of the grooves d or e, and a chain uniting said prop to the leaves of the booksupport, substantially as described.

J OHN BANNER.

\Vitnesses:

T. T. MGOARTY, J. J. PARKER.

A and B, I 

